Heavy Metal Reviews

The UsedInterview with bass player Jeph Howard

conversation with bass player Jeph Howard

The
Used’s new
record Vulnerable
is out now. Their bass player Jeph Howard answers some questions
about the new release and how they deal with the fact that less and
less people buy their records.

The
new record
sounds heavier and more aggressive than Lies
For The Liars
and Artwork.
What is your opinion on those two records today?We needed to make each record in order to make vulnerable.

Just
like I mentioned, Vulnerable
sounds more aggressive. What inspired you this time? It sounds a lot
more like your self-titled debut than any other record you've done
after that. You’ve gone back to working with John Feldmann
for the
upcoming album, how have his contributions enhanced the album? And
what was production like?Different
than the usual Feldman experience.

What
are the lyrical topics of Vulnerable?
It seems to be more positive than Artwork.Artwork
was a very very negative record. As you can tell by the lyrics,
Bert's mental head space was just as negative. That's one of the
beautiful things about vulnerable it is the most positive Bert has
ever been - in mind and lyrics.

Your
debut is considered a classic in it's genre. How do you handle that?
Is there any pressure during songwriting-sessions?
We
are not part of ANY genre that we have been categorized in, and we
have said that from the beginning. No pressure because we
wright songs for ourselves first.

Aiden's
William Control contributed vocals for 'Now That You're Dead'. Where
did the idea come from to have him on your record?
He's
been a long time friend and just happened to be in town. I Love Will
and he is intellectually amazing.

The
band started the label Anger Music Group and you’re teaming
up with
Hopeless Records to put out Vulnerable,
tell us about Anger Music Group and how it started. And what are the
biggest differences between your former major label and
Hopeless?
When we were on a major
the people working with us never had time to pay attention or care
about us, because they all had 500+ bands to do the same thing for.
Hopeless has been great, they actually care about music and care
about their bands. And now actually being on our own label ANGER
MUSIC GROUP we now have complete control and complete freedom.

You've been one
of the most
successful bands in the former emo/screamo scene, playing big venues
and gettig gold certifications for your first two records. How does
it feel that people aren't that aware of you anymore? Are you missing
the mainstream's attention?
We have
said from the first day, we are NOT a emo/screamo band. And
actually we are still doing very well, and actually better than when
we were on a major. Vulnerable
debuted #1 on iTunes alternative and it was #8 borderline #7 in
America, people are VERY aware of The Used. We beat many major label
bands and many major artist. We have never been a main stream band,
we are the underground. And the underground is bigger and more
powerful than the main stream.

Why
do you think people got bored of that whole emo-scene? It was like
people loved bands like The Used, My Chemical Romance or Aiden and
then all bands hardly sold as many records as they used to.EVERY
band is selling less and less records. Why pay and support a band you
like when you can get it for free?

Due
to that circumstance you are playing in smaller venues today, more
club-sized. What do you prefer? Small sweaty club shows or the big
shows in front of 10.000 people?
We
just headlined a show a couple days ago in los vegas and played for
20,000.

Still you've got
passionate fans. What was the weirdest thing ever a fan did at a
show, a meet&greet or in front of a venue after a
show?
Spontaneously cumbusted while
whistling, clapping, snapping, and reading this interview.